With eight successive Premier League wins under their belt they look increasingly capable of lasting the pace ahead of tomorrow’s clash with West Ham at Upton Park

However, with both Chelsea and Manchester City in close pursuit, the Northern Irishman insists six sizeable fences still stand between the Reds and the winning post.

“When you look at it, it seems close but in reality we are still a long way out from the finish line,” Rodgers said.

“Six games is a lot. There is still a lot of work to do. We just need to keep playing with the same calmness, quality and tenacity we have been.

“We can’t look beyond the game against West Ham. They have won six of their last nine games so it will be tough.

“We need to stay calm and focused. Our focus must be on ourselves, I can’t afford to waste energy worrying about any of our rivals.

“If I look too much into Manchester City, I’ll see a squad full of quality players – one they have been building for a number of years. If I look into Chelsea, I'll see top experienced players with an outstanding manager.

“I can only worry about my team and what we're doing. Our focus is on performance and we’ve been performing to a really high level.

“Every Premier League game is difficult. But the way we’re scoring goals, keeping clean sheets and our aggressiveness both with and without the ball gives us great confidence going into these remaining games.”

Both Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho have claimed that Liverpool’s absence from European competition has been a major factor in their remarkable rise to the Premier League summit this term.

The Reds have certainly enjoyed more preparation time but Rodgers insists their rivals have placed too much emphasis on that apparent advantage.

“It’s easy for people to say that,” he said. “Tottenham had a week to prepare for the game with us last Sunday but we won convincingly.

“Look at Chelsea a couple of weeks ago, they had a full week to prepare against Aston Villa and lost. They played in midweek against Galatasaray and won, and then they beat Arsenal 6-0 a few days later.

“They had a week to prepare for a trip to Crystal Palace and lost so it doesn't always follow.

“If you have been in the Champions League for the number of years those clubs have been, their squad is made to cope with that. The depth they have is huge.

“I saw Arsenal and Chelsea in a Cup game earlier this season. Chelsea won 2-0 and were brilliant. It was a totally different starting XI. I said then that I thought that starting XI could have a great chance of winning the league.

“In terms of ourselves, our form hasn't just been this season. We've been the best team in the league for the past season and a half. Even in the second half of last season, when we were still in Europe, we were doing well. Our work over the past 18 months has served us well.”

Tomorrow’s showdown in the capital represents a clash of styles as Rodgers’ men must contend with the Hammers’ direct approach.

It has proved successful in recent weeks with Sam Allardyce’s men dispelling any lingering fears of relegation with back to back wins over Hull and Sunderland to climb to 11th place.

Allardyce’s brand of football may not be pleasing on the eye – their own fans booed them off after they beat the Tigers at home – but Rodgers says West Ham command respect.

“I've got big admiration for Sam,” he said.

“It's pretty clear how I've worked throughout my career and how I want my teams to work. It maybe the total opposite to Sam but I have huge respect for his professionalism.

“I think he’s been given unfair criticism at West Ham. Before you employ Sam Allardyce, you know what you are getting – a greatly experienced manager who has enjoyed success in the Premier League and who has a certain style of football people will either like or dislike.

“What you can't argue with is that he wins games and he's effective. It's a different way of working but with his way he's very methodical and detailed. He looks to get the types of players in who can play that way and he looks to make the game difficult for you. Our ideas are different but it doesn't mean I don't respect him. It's part of the great nature of this league that there are such variances in styles. However, when they come you have to cope. We coped with it well when we beat West Ham at Anfield earlier in the season and we’ll go to Upton Park looking to dominate the ball.”